The Institute of Library, Information and Communication Studies (INSLICS) Fourah Bay College, comprises two units that offer two distinct programmes, Library and Information Science and the Mass Communications studies.

The Lbrary and Information Science unit caters for the professional training of Librarians, Archivists and Information Scientists to manage Libraries, Archives, Resource centers and other related documentation centers.

As a student of INSLICS, I have found out over the years that there is a total lack of understanding of what the library and information scientist does and what responsibilities they carryout.

It is out of this ignorance that most people in our "academic world", in particular the Fourah Bay College, treat Library, Information and Communication studies with contempt. They are not aware that librarianship is a profession that is not only concerned with work inside a building called library or information centre. This ignorance leads to the ineptitude of most people, when they later find themselves working for the university, NGOs, industries and the government.

Little wonder, library issues, whether in school, university and national libraries (most of which are yet to be established in many schools) are always treated with a pinch of salt, when it comes to allocation of funds to these services. This is all because of peoples’ limited or no knowledge of the role libraries and information centres play in the process of Education or in the development of a nation.

A lot of derogatory statements are made about the library and information students.Most of them believe we will only spend the rest of our lives in libraries. Some students will ask us, "Why not come over to the main stream?" There are some club leaders on campus who say library students should not join their clubs no matter how qualified they might be. Thank God for such statements, because most of us would have rejected their invitations, we are not willing to be part of the unhealthy polarisation on campus. That is however another story…. This contemptuous attitude is also extended to the college library.

Perhaps the university authorities should by now be considering the library as "useful but not necessary" if not, who will believe that books donated to Fourah Bay College library were looted during the January 6, 1991 rebel invasion of Freetown because the university authorities delayed to disburse money to clear the books at the Sierra Leone Ports Authority. It may also interest you to know that for the 2005/6 budget allocation, more funds went to games and sports than the college library.

Who is responsible? This is the billion dollars question.

Let me briefly explain the importance of the library in the field of Academia. The functions of the university library and the need for a university Librarian. The library is the central organ of the university because it in itself sums up all that is essential in the concept of a university.

The character and efficacy of a university may be gauged by its treatment of its central organ, the library. The primary purpose of any educational library is to aid the learning process of the institution and other professional tasks associated with library service including collection, building achieves, staff management and readers support.

The library is the place where the student is encouraged to pursue personal and independent search for knowledge and understanding. The libraries like laboratories, is an indispensable centre for knowledge.

The university library performs the following functions: Acquiring and organising relevant materials for the use of students, researchers, lecturers and general library users. Preserve and transmit knowledge through bibliographic instruction and proper organisation of the library collection.

It contributes to the extension of the frontiers of knowledge through the provision of relevant research materials to aid researchers and lecturers, and to enrich the programmes of those pursuing courses leading to the award of diplomas and degrees by providing them with up-to –date informations and helping them to obtain information from other sources.

The relevance of these functions by all indications are not considered by most people especially the FBC authorities. This is a very sad scenario for the pursuit of education.

It is the strong belief of most people who acknowledge the library for what it is, that the problems faced by students and lecturers alike in our universities is due to the inconsistency of the library services.In my view, it is due to the unavailability of trained and professional librarians to man this educational outlets.

It is therefore high time somebody was appointed to fill those positions and I am very much particular about the library at the Fourah Bay College. Like it is happening in all renowned universities across Africa and the world in general, such a professional, in his/her capacity as the Chief Officer of the university library, would invariable be listed along side the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar and the Finance Officer.

By virtue of his/her professional status he/she will therefore attend meetings relating to the development of the university.

His/her actual contributions will not only be limited to library matters but also matters which have explicit implications and impact on the development of the university; By attending senate meeting along side academic colleagues, the librarian keeps him/herself in complete touch with all academic activities.

It is in the light of some of such developments that the libraries can help in planning and managing our universities. The university of Sierra Leone needs Librarians whose appointments are overdue. I hope somebody is listening.